episode_0091

May was almost over.

After my regression, I thought April had been truly busy… but May was an even busier month, full of more work.

Who would dare call April the month where love blossoms, in front of May?

Thinking about it, whether it’s pretty or not, April, where flowers wither, naturally falls short in ‘love power’ compared to May, where plants grow.

Anyway…after a month of May, I, Ras Etgard, now with two lovers, felt incredibly enriched.

The current me could even endure Emma’s verbal abuse for half a day a month.

In any case, it was the last Monday of May, and I had a feeling something good would happen today.

And sure enough…

[Ras, to the infirmary quickly before school!!!]

When I woke up this morning and turned on my magic tool, Ms. Rosalie had sent a short and concise call message since dawn.

She had said she would return to the academy today or tomorrow, but it seemed she had returned as quickly as possible.

I quickly finished getting ready and headed to the infirmary to meet Ms. Rosalie.

*

“Ras!! Darling…I missed you so much. Hmph…. I’ve really developed a demon phobia because of this incident…”

As soon as I entered Ms. Rosalie’s lab, a dizzyingly sweet scent washed over me, *whoosh*.

Ms. Rosalie’s soft, sweet natural scent had become addictively strong in the week I hadn’t seen her.

As if she was casting some kind of magic…

She buried her head deep in my arms and began purring loudly, and I gently stroked her.

“I missed you too. Wow…I knew it, but seeing it again just confirms it. You’re really beautiful.”

“Hehe…you praised my beauty the moment you saw me, huh? Anyway, I was really struggling. I truly missed Ras. Hee…your scent feels so good, Ras…hmm…?”

I felt a little awkward with Ms. Rosalie burying her nose in my arms and neck, inhaling as if sucking something in, but I remained quiet without showing it. Then, Ms. Rosalie, who had been excitedly burrowing into my embrace, began to tilt her head.

“What’s wrong…?”

“Mm…! Ras, you were a little naughty..!”

Ah.

My heart ached slightly at the sudden accusation, but in truth, I had nothing to say.

“How long were you hugging Pisces?! Her scent is practically reeking from you. I didn’t expect you to increase your lovers so quickly~ Hmph…While Teacher-nim was on an overloaded business trip, our Ras was…!”

The women around me all have good intuition, and good noses…. Anyway, I can’t lie at all.

Of course, it was truly fortunate that their personalities were all gentle, so they didn’t act intimidating beyond a little whining and jealousy…

“Hmph! I’m sulking, so cheer me up quickly. But first…how long have you two been together??”

To Ms. Rosalie, who was feigning a slight pout as she asked, I told the truth.

“Since Saturday.”

“Eek..! How dare you. You two haven’t even been together for a few days, yet her scent has permeated you so strongly…! Oh, wait…Ras, don’t tell me…?”

Ms. Rosalie grumbled, then suddenly her eyes widened, and she began to panic.

She was so flustered that she broke out in a cold sweat, and her eyes welled up slightly with tears…

“There’s no chance of you becoming a baby daddy yet, so please don’t cry….”

“Thank goodness…. More than anything, if Pisces had brazenly taken Ras’s ‘first time,’ I truly would have collapsed and sobbed… *sigh*.”

In fact, just yesterday, Pisces had subtly tempted me several times, but I resisted.

It wasn’t because I’m a ‘man who bows his head,’ but because the two brats in my mental world…especially Rakshasa, continuously stopped me.

[Hey! Don’t use your lower half recklessly. Do you remember what was written in the Nine Heaven Extinction Flame Art secret manual? If you mess around in your current state, it’ll truly be a catastrophe??]

The Nine Heaven Extinction Flame Art, true to its nature as a demonic art, has many precautions when learning it.

This demonic art, which can easily lead to qi deviation during training, must be most careful about sexual intercourse….

The Nine Heaven Extinction Flame Art reacts very sensitively to the practitioner’s emotional state and is especially vulnerable to the ecstasy and orgasm that come with sexual intercourse.

This means that unless my mastery reaches a sufficiently high level, neither I nor the woman I have relations with will be free from the threat of fiery demonic energy.

A newbie like Pisces could easily turn into roasted crow if things went wrong…so I had to be especially careful.

Ms. Rosalie also couldn’t be relieved, as her Saintess power hadn’t fully bloomed yet.

I carefully explained this fact to Ms. Rosalie.

Though I was a man who dared to defy the Emperor with my head held high, when discussing such grave matters, I could only become polite and humble.

“Hmm~ Really? So that’s how it is…?”

However, unlike her agitation regarding my first experience, Ms. Rosalie didn’t seem particularly disappointed or offended by my words about no sexual relations for the time being.

“Hehe..! Of course, among the women around Ras, I’m the safest. Ras hasn’t forgotten, has he? I’m an incredibly skilled divine spellcaster. Moreover, according to Ras, I’m the Saintess who killed the Demon King. I’m the strongest. I should aim to establish dominance with my fists while I’m at it…!”

Ms. Rosalie boasted wildly, like a neighborhood boss, and compared to how Pisces had burst into tears upon hearing my words, her demeanor was distinctly different, perhaps because she was the stronger one.

So this is why Pisces always grumbles about combat power, how important it is, and so on….

I didn’t know whether I would reach the stage where I could precisely control the Nine Heaven Extinction Flame Art first, or if Ms. Rosalie’s divine magic would break through its barrier first, but as a man, I didn’t want to lose in this area.

To me, secretly firming my resolve, Ms. Rosalie whispered stickily into my ear, like a succubus.

“So, look forward to it?♡ Hearing Ras’s story, I think it would be better in many ways if I become stronger than in my previous life quickly. When I’m ready first, Ras, you’ll be eaten up by me that very day. *Chomp*..! Like this.”

Ms. Rosalie, who playfully nibbled my ear and neck, gave me a quite intense morning kiss, as it had been a while.

Her tongue tangled stickily yet softly around mine several times, controlling me completely, before she pulled away and whispered to me.

“Good. This should cover up all of Pisces’s scent. Now, shall we go to school, darling?”

“Y-yes…”

Lost in a daze like a child from her undeniably intense skinship, I felt like I had lost to Ms. Rosalie again today.

Someday I’ll win…really!

*

The academy had been on wartime alert since the demon attack, but since no further unusual events were found, it returned to normal operations.

“But kids, it’s a bit much to fill the semester completely amidst such unsettling times…so we’ve decided to start the vacation a little early this semester.”

Our homeroom professor, who resembled the legendary lazy divine beast, a panda, informed us of the academic schedule with a slightly drawling, languid voice.

Professor Tiria was said to have directly confronted the demons who attacked the academy last time, so it was a bit surprising to hear that the seemingly lazy person was more skilled than expected.

Thinking about it, I was slightly curious about what happened to Professor Tiria in my life before the regression.

Did he just teach children like a layabout at the academy and die when the ‘End’ came?

For some reason, I felt that person would have just lived well, eaten well, and even when Sephiroth fell, he would have thought, ‘Ah~ Leon? So he died after all…I guess so.’

His constant behavior of seeking out honey pots like a busy bee was a bit annoying, but since he risked his life fighting high-ranking demons for the students, I also thought he was a decent person in his own way…

“Well, anyway…I’ll be a bit busy until vacation. Not you guys, but me…. The higher-ups are making a fuss, telling me to re-plan a more practical curriculum… Ugh, how annoying…!”

Professor Tiria, who uncharacteristically threw a tantrum, rose from his seat with a *whoosh*.

Then, as if something suddenly occurred to him, he looked between me and Marisa and spoke.

“Oh, right. And Ras and Marisa. Could you two come to my lab for a bit after lunch? I have something to talk to you about regarding club activities.”

The Literary Club…

Come to think of it, I was in the Literary Club.

Still, I met with Marisa to prepare for the festival and wrote articles to be published in the school paper…

“Understood.”

“Alright. Pay attention in class~”

With that, Professor Tiria meandered out of the classroom, and Marisa glided towards me like a ghost.

I looked next to me, and Irha had already dashed off to the cafeteria with a *pitter-patter*.

Normally, Marisa would quietly sit in her seat until Irha brought back bread, but hearing about the ‘Literary Club’ seemed to have excited her a bit, making her come over quickly.

“Welcome, Marisa.”

“Huhu. Hearing about club activities first thing in the morning really makes it feel like school life, and I like it.”

“But why would he call us? The festival was postponed to the second semester, so what would the Literary Club have to do?”

At my words, Marisa just beamed.

“Why are you questioning it? He probably has something obligatory he needs us to do. Professor Tiria never calls students unless it’s an obligatory situation.”

“Ah.”

I figured that perhaps with the festival being disrupted, there was a hitch in the minimum obligatory club activities.

Would he ask us to write a few articles for formality’s sake?

I thought we could just resubmit what we wrote for the festival school paper last time, but with Marisa giggling, it was hard to say anything.

“Joint writing activities, various novel exchange meetings… it would be truly enjoyable if we did these sorts of things. I’m currently trying my hand at a creative work, but it’s proving quite difficult.”

“Don’t you write well? You even edited my writing last time. Your skill seemed pretty impressive.”

As I didn’t particularly have a talent for writing, it was impossible for me to write difficult things like novels, so I had prepared a roughly scribbled essay.

It was a short essay about our youngest, Rinaldo’s childhood, and Marisa had meticulously refined the sentences and words.

At my compliment, Marisa blushed slightly and shook her head.

“Ugh…it’s far from being called well-written. Moreover, it’s my first attempt at a novel, so there are even more problems… Therefore, I’ll need some help from Ras-kun. A third party’s reading perspective will be very different from my own writing perspective.”

“Sure, whatever. Even if I don’t write well, I do enjoy reading just fine.”

Marisa’s face brightened noticeably as the conversation turned to writing, and she chattered excitedly.

No matter how much I thought about it, I felt that Marisa would have lived a much happier life if she had been born into an ordinary family instead of Valencia.

I’ll get you out of there somehow… Just wait a little longer.

“Hmm…? Ras-kun. But why are you looking at me with such sad eyes today?”

“It’s because you keep taking Irha’s head away from me, that’s why I’m sad. Stop taking away my joy in life.”

And then, Irha, who had appeared with a *pitter-patter* and an armful of bread, chimed in on my lament.

“T-that’s right!! You shouldn’t take away my joy…no, Ras’s joy, Marisa…! Because you keep doing that, even when I appear, there’s nothing for me to do except run bread errands…!”

“Discard Ras-kun. Instead, if you just entrust your round head to this Marisa’s gentle hands, everything will be fine.”

And so, amidst the boisterous atmosphere, a joyful Monday flowed by with these strange fellows.

*

Monday, before lunch.

“What is your name?”

The main gate of Leona.

After the demon attack, the Leona Academy’s inspection procedures had become a bit tougher, and the atmosphere at the main gate was quite grim.

A middle-aged to elderly man, shabbily dressed but exuding an extraordinary aura and carrying a sword, naturally caused immense tension among the guards.

This was especially true because next to the man stood a highly suspicious-looking attendant, hidden by a mask and cloak.

“Orlando Ermanius da Sephiroth, I am the Emperor.”

At the word ‘Emperor,’ the guards’ complexions paled slightly, but they soon calmly began to demand procedure.

“‘Your Majesty was not scheduled for a visit. We require something to prove your identity… If you are truly His Imperial Majesty, we apologize profusely.’”

They were extremely nervous and trembling, having just seen a man claiming to be the Empire’s supreme ruler, but their attitude showed they would not neglect their duties.

The man smiled contentedly, seeing the rather well-disciplined guards.

“‘Very…well-disciplined indeed. Identity verification, you say…. Well, it’s not like everyone in the Empire knows my face…. For now, this should suffice to show I’m from the Imperial Family.’”

When he took out a pass intricately engraved with the lion, symbol of the Sephiroth Imperial Family, the guards stood even more rigidly at attention.

“‘I’ve come for a quiet inspection, so I’d prefer if this matter doesn’t escalate. Instead, please call Professor Rosalie Berhart. She is practically my personal physician.’”

“‘Understood. I will send the call immediately.’”

While watching the guard, who was profusely sweating, put in a call to Rosalie’s lab, Lea spoke to the Emperor.

“Is this Ras’s school? The famous Leona Academy?”

“‘That’s right. It’s a school where children considered the Empire’s rising stars attend. You will be transferring here starting next semester.’”

“Ehh~ I really hate being made to study…”

Even as she said that, Lea was inexplicably excited, looking at the grand school buildings.

It felt as if the scent of youth was strongly wafting through the air… and it was needlessly refreshing….

“‘However, to transfer, you must have basic academic qualifications. Therefore…you, the ignorant one, will have to focus on written studies.’”

“Ah…!!!!”

However, Lea’s improved mood was instantly ruined by the Emperor’s single remark.

“Your Majesty…?”

Meanwhile, Rosalie, who had received the call, met the Emperor and Lea.

“Woah…what? She must be crazy. Old man, who is that woman?? She’s irritatingly pretty. She’s a bit less than me, but totally a beautiful unnie?? Hello, unnie?”

“Lea…it’s embarrassing, so please choose your words carefully….”

“Lea…?”

It was another first meeting between the Hero and the Saintess, different from before the regression.

But this time, unlike those intensely serious times, the meeting was light and comfortable, almost like a jest.